Daily Times

The Sindh government is considering banning ride-hailing services Uber and Careem in the province after the companies reportedly failed to comply with a memorandum of understanding signed three years ago.

In a meeting with transport officials, Sindh Minister for Transport and Mass Transit Awais Shah warned that Uber and Careem must take route permits from the Sindh government within seven days to avoid being banned in the province.

Speaking about the incident that occurred two days ago where a girl jumped out of a moving taxi in Karachi on Saturday after being allegedly harassed by the driver of a ride-hailing service, the minister questioned what progress had been made in the case. Ppolice had opened an investigation into the incident that would explain what provoked the girl to jump out of the moving car.

The girl, who had booked a ride from Saddar, claimed that the driver of the ride-hailing service was constantly staring at her through the back mirrors of his car.

When she questioned the driver, who had taken a wrong turn, she panicked and immediately jumped out of the car. Meanwhile, passersby caught the taxi driver and called police. The accused was then moved to the Saddar Police Station.

Last year, the Punjab government’s Provincial Transport Authority declared Careem, Uber and other ride-hailing services operating in the province “illegal”.

The notification was issued that stated that the two companies have been offering transport services “without registering private cars with any regulatory body.”

Also the Sindh government last year declared the use of private cars as taxis without mandatory legal permits ‘illegal’, asking the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) to block the apps.

However, the matter seemed to be resolved as ride-hailing companies have been operating smoothly in the country.

Published in Daily Times, October 23^rd 2018.